Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-09-15


wanted to remain in the vicinity of the
haunted house after dark.
This night was dark from twilight.
Ten rods off the house could not be
seen at all.
1t was at this prudent limit that the
loafing company of old sailors were
assembled near eleven o'clock of that
night. The fascination of the super
natural. too powerful to be resisted by
men of their peculiar education and
experience, had drawn them away
from their customary haunts. The
stories and the excitements of the day
would not permit them TO rest peace
fully in their beds. and they had come
up here to breathe the atmosphere OF
mystery and terror. 1t will be useful
to the reader to overhear their talk.
"Both gone, dye say?"
Eyes; they went to Bos'n this arter-
noon"
Poor wimmin! how did they stand
it?'
.'Better'n you could expect. Mis-
Willis was weak as cat, with all the
hgh-strikes ct is presumed that this
worthy son of Neptune referred to hys-
terics.) she's had, and the pretty young
CONAN bears up bravely while it's
plain to be seen that she's Almost down
sick with her fright
LAS any one would be. arter the
things that happened in that old dew
lis den last night! 1 say. Uncle Peter
-, do you rely think Mis- Willis
saw the Cap'n's ghost last night?"
g haven't doubt of it! Didn't
tell We yesterday that he'd never
come back? That meant that he'd
not come back in the flesh, and I told
We why; but if you'd axed me, would
his spirit come back, I'd said yes, of
course. We can't know much about
these things; but 1 fancy that old
pirate Lobdell's got hold on the Cap
tain's ghost, and is goin' to train him
round with his bad spirits"
After silence of some minutes, one
of the old men remarked:
I'D like mighty well to know
what's goin' on in the old shell to-
night"
May be you'd like to go and find
out" was the crushing sheer of old
Peter.
Il didn't say So" the other replied,
with some spirit. 81 can't fight the
devil, no more'n you can; and, of
course. l wouldn't dare go inside. But
I'll go up close to the outside with
any man here, and listen"
No one volunteered to accompany
him.
Don't know but I'd go alone"
said the seaman, rather doubtfully.
You don't dare to-" Peter Mullins
tainted.
These two venerable seamen had a
long-standing grudge. arising out of
their differences about people and
lands they had visited in their voy-
ages; which differences were being con-
tinually stimulated by their compan-
ions, for the sake of mischief. No
sooner was this incipient quarrel COM
menced between Mullins and the other
than the bystanders began to express
their opinions as to whether Tom Burt
dared or did not dare to 60 up close to
the outside of the Lobdell house at that
hour. A sa
There's one way to settle that ques-
tion," said Burt, who was aggravated
to exhibit a bravery that he was far
from feeling. ''I'll 60 now. If any of
you want to come, now's your time. ;"
He walked slowly forward and dis
appeared IN the darkness.
Nobody followed him. Some wanted
to cry out to. him to stop, and not
tempt the powers of darkness; but the
bantering that had occurred restrained
them. 80
They waited in suspense fol. his re-
turn. He was absent not more than
ten minutes; but in the painful silence
that prevailed no man spoke word.
He came back hatless, his usually
ruddy face pale as ashes, his eyes wild
and staring.
Eagerly they gathered about him and
piled him with questions.
Not here" he said, family, look
ing over his shoulder as if fearful that
some ghostly presence was pursuing
him. Let's get away from this ac-
cursed place. Come down to the tav-
ern, and I'll tell you"
They all eagerly complied.
Seated in the ale-house, with his
dropping courage braccd by stimu-
liant, Tom Burt gave his plain and
strange narrative.
By daylight it was being repeated in
every house in the town; and there
after the vicinity of the old Lobdell
house was summed as though the
plague had possessed it.